Reasons that teenagers prove to be dangerous drivers

On Behalf of | Jul 8, 2021 | Car Accidents |

If you’re interested in what age group has the most dangerous drivers, it’s not hard to determine that teens provide the most risk. They cause many accidents resulting in injury and they have abnormally high fatal crash rates. Researchers note that they drive less than people of almost every other age group, but still have high fatality rates, showing a serious problem.

But it’s not enough to consider which age group is most at risk or causes the most serious accidents. The key is to ask why this happens — and to consider if there is any way to put an end to it.

The top reason is simply inexperience

Above all else, it’s clear that inexperience is the main factor. Teens need time to learn how to drive safely. Even though they go through training and theoretically drive with their parents before driving alone, it still takes time to become proficient at this complex skill — just as it does with any other skill, from cooking to playing sports to playing an instrument. Teens have the least experience of any age group and therefore cause the most crashes.

That said, some other reasons for these accidents include:

  • Speeding
  • Texting and driving
  • Other forms of distracted driving
  • Aggressive driving
  • Misjudging road conditions

Many of these causes also have their roots in inexperience, though. A teen may drive too quickly for conditions, go into a corner at too high of a speed and lose control of the car. While this may be due to recklessness, it could also simply be that they didn’t realize they were driving too quickly until it was too late to slow down.

The resulting accident is still the teen’s fault, but the only way they can learn to drive more safely is by spending more time on the road, practicing those skills and developing better judgement.

Seeking compensation after a crash

If you’re injured in an accident caused by a teen driver, you may be able to seek compensation for medical bills and related costs. Since you have to face this risk on a daily basis, it is very important to know what options you have and what you will need to do after a crash.

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